Out of season fruit killing songbirds

The Independent.

Think about serving strawberries and cream at your wedding -- in November...and read this:

"The number of migratory songbirds returning to North America has gone into sharp decline due to the unregulated use of highly toxic pesticides and other chemicals across Latin America. Ornithologists blame the demand for out-of-season fruit and vegetables and other crops in North America and Europe for the destruction of tens of millions of birds. By some counts, half of the songbirds that warbled across America's skies only 40 years ago have gone, wiped out by pesticides or loss of habitat.

New and highly toxic pesticides banned by the US and European Union are being widely used in Latin America. Because of changed consumer habits in Europe and the US, export-led agriculture has transformed the wintering grounds of birds into intensive farming operations producing grapes, melons and bananas as well as rice for export..."

Combined with a loss of habitat due to ethanol planting, the birds are doomed. And the bees haven't recovered yet, either. Consider this when you're planning your wedding menu, and it's not just fruit - so vegetarians and vegans should take note too, and do their research.